Loyola Lacrosse Teams Graduate Early

The seniors on the men and women’s lacrosse teams at had a heck of a scheduling conflict.

The university’s Class of 2012 is scheduled to graduate on Saturday at First Mariner Arena, at the same time the teams are set to play games in the NCAA Tournament. The men’s team takes on Denver University at 2:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corp Stadium in Annapolis.  The women’s team face off against the University of Maryland at 11 a.m. at College Park.

So on Thursday, the university held a special graduation ceremony for the two teams’ nine seniors at the Andrew White Student Center on campus.

"I like the smaller graduation more. It’s more personal for us. It brings us closer as a team, I feel, and it’s a good bonding experience for us seniors," said Eric Tillman.

But Tillman, a Phoenix resident, said it was a little bittersweet to not be able to graduate with his friends that are not on the lacrosse team.

"It’s a little bittersweet, but I graduate before them so I get to rub that in their face a little," Tillman said.

Ana Heneberry said that she was grateful that the school would hold a special graduation to accommodate the teams.

"I think having it more personal, with just our families and our teammates, and this year we had the men’s team, it’s definitely really fun and really nice," Heneberry said.

Heneberry, a Timonium resident, said it would be special to graduate with her entire class, but said graduating with her teammates was more important.

"These are the people I spend my time with. I spend almost every waking hour with my roommates who are my teammates, and my other teammates who live on campus. It’s sort of perfect in a way," Heneberry said.

But after celebrating graduation with their families and friends it will be back to focusing on lacrosse for the school’s newest alumnus.

"We get this time, we’re having this time with our family, but we get to refocus and go back to practice and back to lacrosse," Heneberry said.

Tillman, a goal keeper, too said he was ready to focus on Saturday’s game.

"Now were just pretty much professional lacrosse players. It’s all about getting that win Saturday, and to the final four and going up to Foxborough, MA [where the championship will be played] and take care of business," Tillman said.

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